Geneva Conference Centre of Buddhism (GCCB) was established in 2006 and is located in Grand-Saconnex, Geneva. It is a 10 minute walk from Geneva Airport. GCCB is one of 200 worldwide branches of Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Taiwan, founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who advocates Humanistic Buddhism.

GCCB, the European HQ of Fo Guang Shan Monastery, believes that diversity is a source of strength, vitality and prosperity and we would like to bring cultural harmony to communities across the country and strengthen the bonds of friendships among people of different faiths and cultures. We provide a sequence of beautiful, practical and inspiring spaces to serve the community, visitors and those in need.

Our Activities
We work among international communities in Geneva to help them toward greater self-awareness and personal growth by offering emotional support, educational goals and meditation practice. In addition to conducting the service of faith, GCCB, as a self-sustain non-profit organization, also promotes and brings international cultural exchange to communities; we have organised various educational programmes, charitable projects, social and multicultural events in Switzerland such as Youth Summer Camp, Young Musicians Concert, Lectures and Seminars of Chinese Buddhist Philosophy, Seminars on Public Health, Zen & Tea Ceremony, Winter Relief to Children, Victims of Earthquakes in China and Cyclone in Burma, Guiding Tours for International Students and Various Groups. Other activities include Sutra Study, Meditation, Vegetarian Cooking, Chinese Calligraphy Writing, and Mandarin Classes etc.

GCCB offers a friendly atmosphere for anyone who is interested in its services and activities and is open to public from 10:00 to 18:00 daily except Monday. A visit to our center can give you more information about Buddhism and the meaning of the symbolic features in the Buddha Hall. Guided tours are available. Booking is essential for a guided tour.

GCCB Building
Coming through the entrance gate, you then entre a court yard which means the field of merits. In Buddhism, field carries great meaning. There are three kinds of field - gratitude, respect and compassion.

On the ground floor there are the Buddha Hall, Meditation Hall a reception, and office. The roof’s circular shape represents the feature of harmony in Buddhism. The eight beams symbolise the Noble Eight-fold Path, which is based on morality, meditation and wisdom.

In the basement of the two storey building is Di Zang Shrine, a library, spacious Exhibition Hall and/or Conference Room, which contains a small stage, a wide screen with a projector, and a multimedia system. It is a great location for cultural and educational activities. There are two meeting rooms in the basement. Each can accommodate between 25 – 50 people for small group meetings and seminars. These rooms are available for hire.

The gardens display statues of novice monks, each symbolising different buddhist life scenes to give a lively appeal of the natural garden. It includes cultivating, exercising and daily chores.

Our Visions
The seed for Buddhism in Switzerland has been sown and will continue to grow. GCCB promotes the four principles initiated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun: “Propagating Dharma through cultural activities, fostering talent through education, benefiting society through philanthropic programmes and purifying human minds”. We also promote Buddhism locally by educating local Buddhists to assist in propagating the Dharma. We are committed to the establishment of a Pureland in western society through nurturing joy and harmony, unity and coexistence, respect and tolerance, equality and peace.

Our affiliated lay association – Buddha’s Light International Association is granted Non-Governmental Organisation Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and working together with our 200 worldwide branches of Fo Guang Shan Monastery in the world to promote a better future for human society.

When people act together, great things are possible. Geneva Conference Center of Buddhism is looking forward to the collaboration with Swiss society and communities in the near future so as to promote enduring interfaith network, create cultures of peace and bring the world harmony and happiness among all people.